Challenging a Jury . An Irish officer , not very conversant in law terms , was lately tried for an alleged assault . As the jury were coming to be sworn , the judge , addressing the mayor , told him , that if there were any amongst them to whom he had any objections , that was the time to challenge them . I thank your lordship , said the brave prisoner ; but with your lordship s permission , Ill defer that ceremony till after my trial , and . if they don t acquit me , by the piper of Le mster , Fll challenge every mother s son of them , and have em out ,-too I

iff UNCLE ROLANDS TALE » ROH BLACKWOOD S MAGAZINE . IT was in Spain , no matter where or Row , that it was my fortune to take prisoner a French officer of the same rank that I then held—a lieutenant ; and there was so much similarity in our sentiments , that we became intimate friends—the most intimate friend I ever had , sister , out of this dear oircle . He was a rough soldier , whom the world had not well treated ; but he never railed at the world , and maintained that he had had his deserts . Honor was his idol , and the sense of honor paid him for the loss of all else . There was something similar , too , in our domestic relationships . He had a son —a child , an infant—who was all in life to him , next to his country and his duty . I , too , had then such a son , of the same years . ( The Captain paused an instant : we exchanged g lances , and a stifled sensation of pain and anxiety was felt by all his listeners . ) We were accustomed , brother , to talk of these children—to p...

SPORTING INTELLI 3 ENC-. REPORTED AND SELECTED JOB TBS CLIPPIE . HOME MATTEPwS . Tbe Yachting Season . OPENING OF THE BALL . • CAPSIZS or ONE OP Tax BOATS . The first race of the season came off on Monday , and though rather on a small scale , attracted some attention as the commencement of aquatic sports that promise to bo uncommonly interesting this summer . Tbe boats taking part iu tho match on Monday were the Stephen S . Eagen and Ranchero . The race was for $ 50 aside , and the boats were to sail from the Battery to Robin s Reef and back . At about 15 minutes pa * t 11 , the preliminaries being arranged , the signal to start was g iven , and both boats were off , though the Eagen obtained an advantage over her competitor that gave her an advance of some yards , though the Ranchero gained on her quito perceptibly , and finally shot ahead of her , but in rounding the Reef , from some unexplained cause , tho Ranchero was capsized , the crew thrown into tho water , and before she c...

Another Regatta . THE NEW YORK YACHT FLEETSPoRT ANTICIPATED . A sailing match was announced to take place the latter part of the week , but as we go to press on Wednesday evening , wc cannot g ive the particulars or result in this number . The race is from Hoboken to the S . W . Spit and back . The following vessals compose the fleet : Maria , ] 79 tons , owner Com . Stevens . Ultra , 160 „ „ C . B . Miller . Cornelia , 90 „ „ Vice-com Edgar . S ^ bil , 90 „ „ E . C . Center . Spray , 37 „ „ S . Draper . Sport , 30 „ „ T . T . Ferris . Norma , 25 „ „ Messrs . Major . Ariel , 25 „ „ W . B . Dumas . Alpha , 24 „ „ R . R . Morris . These vessels have all been overhauled and put in good trim for the summer season , and will be able to show our Philadelp hia and Baltimore friends some good sailing , as it is rumored that several of the crack vessels of those places will bo here during the summer to make a match with some of our fast sailers . We promise some rare sport when they arrive ....

PACING IN CALIFORNIA . A match for $ 1000 asit j , between- the favorite pacing horse Domiuick Burnett , and the much admired fancy pet Creeper , mile Iftats , came off , April 28 , over tlio Pioneer Course , San Francisco . This match was made some two weeks since , and up to the time the fancy had been p iled upon Dominick to an extent beyond the means of many of thc opposite side . The position in which Dominick has been placed by his performances , gave his friends thc idea that nothing short of a tip-top flyer could walk , or even come w thin speaking distance of him , and very good reason his backers had for thinking thus . Dominick was to go in a sulky , while Creeper was under the saddle , with the best straddlebug on his back that ever was toted . The entire day was one of rain and sunshine . First heat . —Tho horses were called to thc stand at 2 \ o clock , Dominick having the inside . An over anxiety on the pt . it of tho driver- of-Dominick placed him ralhos too far in a...

Cricket—New York vs . St . George s Club . The first game of a home &amp;amp; nd homo match between these clubs will come off on thc club ground , at the Red House , HarIrein , on Wednesday , the Sth . nf June . Both parties aro active in preparing for the contest , and wc have no doubt some excellent play will be exhibited . The members of the New York Club play on Saturday , Juno 4 . The wickets will be pitched at 12 o clock , and to insure a full afternoon s play all members arc expected to be punctual in attendance . »•« .

Courting . Wonder how some of our young ladies would like to be courted in Australian style . If a chief , or any other individual , be smitten by a female of a different tribe , he endeavors to waylay her ; and if she be surprised in any quiet place , the ambushed lover rushes upon her , beating her about the head with his waddie till she becomes senseless , when she is dragged in triumph to his hut # and thenceforth is his lawful bride . It sometimes , however , happens that she has a thick skull , and resents his blows , when a battle ensues , and not unfrequentl y ends in the discomfiture of the Adonis . Nothing depressed by bis want of suceess , but rather his ardor being increased by opposition , he lrtflu about her abode till ahe and her companions are asleep , when he steak to the sleeping beauty , and givea her such a striking proof of his affection , that ahe is carried off without diffculty !

Swiss Rifle Shooting at Hornsey-Wood House . On Monday last , tho London Swiss Riflo Club , or , as tbey term themselves , Sociotedes CarabiniersSuisses aLondres , held their first meeting of the season at their usual place of rendezvous—Mr . Stone s shooting grounds , Hornsey-Wood House . Many and important alterations have been made during the winter , more especially in what is called the stand-house , tho marksmen being now much better protected from the inclemency of the weather than heretofore , an improvement , but for which the unpropitious state of the elements last Monday would undoubtedly have most inconveniently wetted the powder and the jackets of the competing riflemen . Four silver prizes were shot for by nine members of tho club , viz ., Messrs . Guillaume , Badollet , Guinand , Pingeon , Cciomb , Copt , Meilliard , Huguenin and Baume , 20 shots each , from the shoulder , distance 200 yards , at a target 42 in , with a bullseye of 10 , and a carton , or centre of 4 £...

THE SKIPPERS CABIN . A TALK WITH OUB FIIIENDS AT nOME AND ABROAD . We think it would look rather selfish in us not to let our readers know of the great success which attended our efforts last week . Our edition , which , . is already very large , was completely exhausted early on the morning of / Thursday , our publication day , and many of our customers , who had not secured a full supply early in the morning , were compelled to lw content with those they already had . We regretted this very much , but as the forms had been partly distributed , we found it impossible to print a second edition . We trust , in future , to be able to print a supply equal to the demand , so that all who wish to become patrons of our Clipper may not be disappointed in procuring a copy . ELOQUENCE . —A friend sends us the following as a specimen of a bust of eloquence he lately listened to in one of the Courts in an adjacent town : Gentlemen of the Jury , when the dreary waters of the unfathomable Nile f...

- — - —?? - *&amp;gt; Talk on Change . There was a tendency to inquire into the unusually high price of feed , but an extensive provision dealer objecting , it wasnt pressed . The suggestion made by the Clipper f &amp;gt; r the opening of the Crystal Palace on the 4 th of July , was commented on , and the members on the board all promised to use their influence to further its favorable consideration by the Board of Directors . The practice of taking * up little boys for pitching pennies in the Purk and on the Battery , and for letting big boys go clear who were guilty of swindling emigrants and returned Califoriiiatis , was severely censured , and it was recommended to our Judges not to be s . » hard on the little boys . There was some talk as to the imprisonment of the Gardiner Jury at Washington . Much commiseration was felt for their un timely cud , and it was thought that the Judges and Counsel should undergo the same degree of punishment . It was wondered if the fear of...

A Cute Old Lady . An old woman , who has a two years lease of an old house at the corner of Church and Warren streets , refuses to give up the premises under 810 , 000 . The owner wants it for the purpose of making improvements , and has offered her $ 5 , 000 , but she still rem dns firm . The old woman has got * em this time .

The Hippodrone We have received several communications in relation to the article in last week s Clipper on the origin and proprietors of the Hippodrome , the writers of which seem to infer that our remarks were not strictly correct With all due deference to the intelligence of the author ; of the communications referred to , we would remark that the article in question can be depended upon as a true statement of facts . Have the managers produced anything really extraordinary in the way of equestrianism since they have opened their exhibition ? It may bo said that they have , but we deny it The Taces are very exciting , and , of course , have been the most interesting , but have the riders displayed any great degree of proficiency in the management of their horses ! No . The noble animals themselves are the most deserving of praise , for , in several instances , the riders have been unable to keep their places , though the beasts they attempted to manage had instinct enough to stop...

*—* Opening of the Palace . At last we are almost at liberty to say officiall y when this event will take place . It is thought that it will be between the 1 st and 1 Mb of July , and , if so , why not adopt the suggestion made in the Clipper last week , and throw open the doors to the public on the glorious anniversary of our National Independence ? It has been a source of great mortification to our citizens that the opening did not take place on the 1 st of May , the day originally designated , for thousands of strangers who visited our city expecting to be present at the opening , have gone away sorely disappointed at the delay , but yet hi ghl y ] . leased with another establishment in our citv , but . little inferior to the Crystal Palace . These strangers , who had seen the advertisement * of the extensive Carpet Warehouse of Hiram Anderson , No . 90 Bowery , at once determined tbey would not leave the citv without testing the truth of the cheapness and superiority of Mr . And...

Visitin ? Firemen . several Jialtimoie Fire Companies will visit our city during the present month ) among them , the Mechanical Engine Company , which wdl arrive here on or about the 14 th inst , and will leave on thc 17 th . They will be the guests of 14 , or Columbia Engine . Boys , be on hand to show them ui . ?» - • Another Kew Fork Tacfct . By reference tn our forei gn Sportin Department , it will be seen that tbe New York yacht Truant has been entered for a regatta shortly to take place . The Truant was formerly owned by Jlr Griunell , of this city . The Truant has never been beaten by any of her forei gn competitors . I

I Jn 8 tfce .--Hew - -Tork vs . Philadelphia . ** According to the jurisprudence of New York city , says the Philadelphia Ledger , as any careful observer may have seen since the sham trial of young Robinson io 1836 , for the murder of Helen Jewett , a rogue in rags is sure of punishment , a rogue in ruffles almost sure of impunity . Well , in respect to jurisprudence we see very little difference in the two cities . Mr . Wood , the confectioner , who killed his daughter iu Chesnut street a number of years since , escaped the punishment due his crime by the use of his money , and the ever ready plea of insanity . Spring , without a friend in the world , was brought to a speedy trial , his case hurried through , and his conviction , sentence , and tke . fixing cf the day for his e ; e ut on , followed with unprecedented ra- . pi dity . And yet we see no difference in the crimes committed ; for one was about as insane as the other ; and had Spring been possessed of that wealth which w...

How the ? Talk In our first number , we published an article , in which we gave an idea of the style of editorials in our principal dail y papers . This week we give a specimen of a few of onr weeklies . The Picayune . —Mr . Pick feels very happy , exceedingl y happy this beautiful morning ; and as he looks out from bis sanctum upon . the crowded thoroughfare , where are passing beautiful ladies and their attendant lovers or husbands , it makes him feel as glad and happy as if he was enjoying himself in their most agreeable and loving society , instead of sitting here in this sanctum , conning over newspapers , or tracing upon some fourcent writing paper , the thoughts that flow from bis well stored mind . Mr . Pick is happy . The Irish American . —Father Gavazzi , in his attempts to ruin tbe poor Irish servant girls in this country , is sowing the seed that shall come up in good time and prove to . he world the base and unmanl y motives that have prompted him to array one class of ...

Tariety . An unusuall y interesting variet y of sporting intelli gence will be found under its proper head . »* - Bet high en That On the return tri p of the British steamer Arabia , and the Collin , steamer , there will be some tall walking done . Well go onr pile on Collim .